THE THEATRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 565, 1 December 1915, Page 9

THE THEATRES.

"DAMON and PYTHIAS." Greek history has proved a rich field for moving picture productions, but as a very great amount of expense and time are involved in procuring a satisfactory portrayal of the famous deeds of'heroism, comparatively few pictures of this type are screened, and when* they are placed before the public they are very often of a rather poor standard. "Damon and Pythias," . which was produced at the Theatre Royal by the Frederic Shioman Enter- " prises, Ltd., for the first time last evening, •*vas undoubtedly a remarkably &ood production, and theatregoers should not fail to witness it. told is the classic example of*rhe depths^of human friendship, and the picture itself has been acted by the most capable artists,, while the setting is admirable in. every respect. Damon, a senator, is sentenced' to death for attempting the life of Dionysius. Pythias, Damon's > friend, arid a young general of distinction, gives '"himself as hostage, while Damon sets out on a journey! to bid his wife and son farewell. While away, Dionysius, who disguises himself, tempts Pythias to flee with his newly-wedded wife Calanthe, saying that Damon will not return. Preferring death to dishonour, Pythias -remains, but is saved just in time by the return of £amon, who has had to overcome many obstacles. Dionysius then throws off his disguise, and,- refusing to tear asunder such a friendship, commands the heralds to announce the pardon of Damon. Fif--7 teen hundred actors and actresses are engaged in the production, which gives ; a* small idea of the expense arid time incurred, while the costumes, which are very artistic and natural, must have been extremely costly. The picture, as a whole, is an excellent one, and is a very worthy successor of "Neptune's! .Daughter." - OPERA HOUSE. An excellent vaudeville bill is presented at the-Opera House this week, headed by the much-boomed Herbert Brooks, who conies quite up to expectations in his sleight-of-hand and other tricks in which the eye is • cleverly deceived. Sinclair 1 and Vernon, the clever patter comhave returned with a wealth of new songs and jokes. A pair of new arrivals, Morris and Meeker, . specialise with success in the same line. Balancing Stevens, the Cleveland comical juggler, is re-appearing this week, as are Ward Lear, Ted Russell, and Rowley and Tointon. EVERYBODY'S. A splendid Vitagraph photo-play entitled "From Headquarters" is the feature in the current programme at Everybody's. The famous players Anita Stewart Earle Williams are the principals in the play, and the fact that these artists are appearing is enough in itself to attract large crowds to the popular theatre. The theme is powerful all through and the action of the play is gripping in its intensity of interest. It is a detective drama, full of human thrills, and with an unusual romance as its chief feature. "An African Hunt" is more of the clever animated cartoons which have become so popular of late, while the ©ther pictures comprise the Gaumont Graphic, "Father Love" comedy, and "An Hour of Freedom" drama. The same pictures will be shown throughout the remainder of the week v HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The London Film Company's 5000 ft drama, "The Heart of 4X Child," is making a strong impression, because of the story and the splendid" acting and production. Sally Snape, an East End girl, is thrown on her own resources in Lbndon, but wins through by personality and pluck to fame on the musical comedy stage, and then to the peerage, retaining through all the struggles and temptations , "the

heart of a child." Edna Flugrath, the English "Mary Pickford," takes the part of Sally, and the film story is one of the best shown, being very bright with comedy. Other films include: "A Woman of Nerve," a tense drama; "Rheims Cathedral," a scenic, containing some very fine views of the French "seventy-fives" in the surrounding battlefields; and the latest "Pathe Gazette" and a clever cartoon comedy. THE GRAND. The final episode of the "Master Kfey" serial will be .shown at the Grand Theatre this; evening. The ending of this serial is very Satisfactory and artistic, and is quite worthy of all the preceding instalments. "The Faith of a Child" is a good dramatic picture dealing with the life of a Hindu. M|iny convalescent Indian warriors, resting and recuperating in England; are used in this picture, and the big fellows enter into the fighting for the camera with wholehearted, enjoyment. The plot is based on the faith of the child of an Indian soldier, in her daily prayers for her father's welfare. How the prayers are answered is very well shown, and the play is well staged and produced. A lively comedy, a beautiful scenic, and war items as shown in the Eclair Journal comprise the remainder of the pro-* gramme, which will be screened finally this evening. . . - THE GLOBE. "Shanghaied," the 10th exciting episode of the "Million Dollar Mystery" is featured in the current programme at the Globe. In this instalment Norton and-Florence meet with more remarkable adventures, and are eventually reconciled under dramatic circumstances. "Nearly a Prize Fighter" is a comedy with Billy Reeves making most of the fun, this time in an attempt to raise easy money by an exhibition of the noble' art. "An Intercepted Vengeance" is a thrilling Wild West love story, specially suited to the tastes of the young and romantic.. An interesting industrial "Whisky Making," is alsb shown. SYDENHAM PICTURES. The splendid production of the London Film Company, "The Heart of a Child" has delighted Sydenham jpatrons during the week, and will be screened for the last time to-night Edna Flugarth is seen at her best in her magnificent acting in the character of Sally Snape, the slum child. "Relentless Dalton" is a highly humorous film, being the comical adventures of " two men and a maid .in animated cartoons. "A Woman of Nerve," a Reliance drama and an excellent number of the Pathe Gazette conclude the programme.

J. C. WILLIAMSON'S COMPANY.

"POTASH AND PERLMUTTER."

"Potash and Perlmutter," the famous American comedy in three acts, will be presented here at the Theatre Royal on Monday evening next under the direction of J. ' C. Williamson, Ltd, Never in the history of the Australian stage has a company or play created the same amount of delighted enthusiasm as that which was displayed in Sydney and Melbourne over the production of this delightfully fascinating and excruciatingly humorous Hebrew comedy. The season is for five nights only and the box plans will be opened at Milner and Thompson's on Friday morning-next at 8 o'clock. Potash and Perlmutter, who constantly quarrel with each other, and in their arguments provide continuous laughter that never once springs from the extravagance of burleque, are indeed, rather poor business men, because they are often imposed upon, frequently confounded, and for wholly sentimental reasons place themselves in a position where ruin stares them in the face. Their keenness and their kindness are in curious contrast. In excerpts from the text one could compose a booklet that in satire, humour, and the everyday philosophy of life, would be very widely read. Indeed, the story, like so many American plays,

appeared first in book form, so that many of the best points are familiar. Yet, it is one of the few instances in which one can say that the whole subject makes a far better play than a story—scene and action supplying so much that become uninteresting detail in a book, unless the author has the rare gift of creating for his readers the mind picture that lies'before his own eyes. The new comedy introduces some leading American artists who have already become popular in Australia and New Zealand, chief among them being Mr Paul Burns .and Mr Sam Le Bert, who make the parts of Abe Potash anjjl Mawruss Perlmutter actually live upon the stage. Miss Mar.garet Vinton, one of America's leading artists, created a very favourable impression as Ruth Goldman. Miss Vinton, besides being a beautiful woman, has a charming personality. Miss Lizzie Wilson and Mr Samuel Howard, who also hail from New York, are very amusing in the parts of Mrs Potash and Marks Pasinsky. Altogether there are over 40 people concerned in the production of "Potash and Perlmutter," including Messrs Lewis Willoughby, Cyril French, Victor E. L. Delaney, John de Lacy, Lawrence Hardinge, John Vincent, Charles Lawrence, Edwin Lester, Carleton Stuart, also Misses Nancy Vinton, Gladys Young, Gwen Weston, Rosalind Smeaton, Sylvia Bremer, and Gladys Pardy. The dresses worn by Miss Goldman and the other ladies are of a gorgeous quality. The scenery and mounting is of the lavish order, and a full orchestra adds to the evening's entertainment.